SHIMURAbros—the creative duo of siblings Yuka and Kentaro Shimura—recently took the stage for Film Without Film, an engaging talk that challenged conventional notions of cinema. Known for their innovative blend of sculpture, installation, and avant-garde film techniques, the duo—currently researchers at Studio Olafur Eliasson—explore the materiality of light and the evolving language of the moving image.
Their work pushes beyond the flatness of traditional cinema, transforming filmmaking into a dynamic interplay between light and substance. By reimagining film as a sculptural and spatial medium, SHIMURAbros invite viewers to engage with the physical presence of light, positioning it not just as a tool of cinema, but as its subject and material. During the talk, the artists reflected on how their installations activate the formal qualities of film, encouraging audiences to reconsider its aesthetic and conceptual foundations. Central to their practice is the idea of a “mutual exchange of light and matter”—an approach that gives form to the ephemeral and reveals cinema as a process as much as a product.
In recent works such as Butterfly Upon a Wheel (2022), SHIMURAbros turn their lens to global concerns, exploring themes of displacement and survival. Inspired by Sugihara Chiune—the Japanese diplomat who issued life-saving visas during WWII—the project connects historical memory with contemporary refugee crises, underscoring the duo’s commitment to socially engaged art.
Born in 1976 and 1979 respectively, Yuka and Kentaro Shimura have exhibited internationally, including at Festival de Cannes, Berlinale, and the Yebisu International Festival for Art & Alternative Visions. Their work has earned numerous honors, including the Excellence Award at the 13th Japan Media Arts Festival. Yuka holds degrees from Tama Art University and Central Saint Martins, while Kentaro studied Imaging Art at Tokyo Polytechnic University.
Curated by Keith Whittle in partnership with The Japan Foundation and Central Saint Martins. Special thanks to The Japan Foundation and Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London (UAL)
